The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1887-10-01
THE G.. A. r. CELEBRATION.

THE G. A. r. CELEBRATION.
An Encampment of Over Three Thousan,
Tents in st. Louis.
st. Louis special: A feature of thi
encampment is the sheltering of larg'
number of old veterans in tents, triet
: at each encampment before in small
numbers. The plan gave such satisfac
ton and pleasure that it was decided
thus to house vast numbers, and the ex
, ecutive committees arranged to care fol
greater concourse of people on the
field than has ever before been attempt
ed in any land except in times Of war
Perhaps no canvas city of such proper
tions has ever been built in so short a
time. Within two months $500 tents
with ample room for $4,000 soldiers
more than there is IN the United States
army, have been put together and are
now pitched in the ten beautiful parks
of the city, all within radius of two
miles from headquarters, and connected
by telegraph and convenient dining
halls. A bale of straw makes mat
tress for each tent bed. In Lyon park
500 tents are pitched, in Concordia park
300, in Hyde park 500, Washington park
$50, Carr Place 700. St. Louis 800, Jack
son park $50, Forest park 25O, around
the court house 100. For several days
the deserted walks and white coverings
were more like a city of the dead, but
tonight an army Of jovial and tried
spirits fill them, and the doubt, would
the boys take to the tents, has been dis
PEELED, for more applications for such
shelter have been made than tents are
ready for, but the hotels and boarding
houses offer relief for the surplus. In
many cases veterans stop in camp and
house their families near by.
This evening reveals touching scenes.
Warrior citizens only know the feelings
of such glorious consequences. Ever
and anon the surging crowds upon the
street pause to hear the bugle call, and
then stentorian voice calling out the
name of the company, regiment and
state. Sometimes the call is for COM
rade not seen for years. Too often
there is no response, but then again an
answer: silence as they meet, and then
jubilee.
These camps are full Of pathetic
meetings after years of separation, and
it is this that draws SO many. Thous-
ands Of the boys in blue are together.
The great camp is success, and will
become a part of the G. A. R. encamp-
ment Of the future.
Because of inclement weather the
grand parade was postponed until We'd
nesday. This day also dawned accompa-
MED by adriZzling rain, and when the or
der to fall in for the parade was receiv-
ed at the various camps and headquar-
ters, the men tumbled out of their tents
and rooms, prepared for battle with
the elements, with rubber coats and
and trousers rolled up. It
was l o'clock when the column was
formed and Grand Marshal Grier order
ed the escort of mounted police forward.
Then followed the grand marshal, with
his chief-of-staff, General A. J. Smith
and aides. Logan post, of st. Louis,
and Springfield, Mass, battal-
ion, acted as escorts to the commander
in-chief, who followed o few yards be-
hind, bowling to the crowds, who greet
ed him with applause. His staff of one
hundred men. mounted, preceded twen-
ty carriages, moving three abreast, in
which were governors and other hon
ored guests. In the lead was one occu-
pied by Mayor Francis and Gen. w. T.
sherman. Although closely sheltered
from the rain and sight, the crowds
soon found out where the old command
er was and cheer upon cheer marked
1is progress, while frequent groups of
men would rush from shelter to the
carriage door to grasp his hand. Tat
;ered battle flags called forth enthusias-
;ic cheers. The Sons Of Veterans
up the rear and when they had
passed the stand ranks were broken
md the parade was over.
Rocky Fork Coal.